Britain has been shaped by turmoil between its nations, and tension between state and church. But centuries of conflict would forge the power at the heart of the largest empire the world has ever seen.
Discover more in the sections below.
British History in-depth
British History Timeline
Explore all of British history, from the Neolithic to the present day, with this easy-to-use interactive timeline.
Norman Britain (1066 - 1154)
The story behind the Battle of Hastings, and the leaders who fought it out in 1066.
Middle Ages (1154 - 1485)
Turmoil, crisis and the creation of a state, from Magna Carta to the horrors of the Black Death.
Tudors (1485 - 1603)
An era of change and triumph, from Henry VIII's Reformation to Elizabeth and the Armada.
Civil War and Revolution (1603 - 1714)
The Gunpowder Plot failed, but the English Civil War would later claim the life of a king.
Empire and Sea Power (1714 - 1837)
War with France brought victory at Trafalgar and Waterloo, and gave Britain control of the seas.
Special Section: Abolition of the Slave Trade
How the trade operated and the dramatic transatlantic campaign that led to its abolition.
Victorian Britain (1837 - 1901)
Industrial revolution powered Britain to global pre-eminence and initiated social reform.
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Front: World War One (1901 - 1918)
Controversy and emancipation. Britain's costliest conflict had a far-reaching impact at home.
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Front: World War Two (1918 - 1945)
Life on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Front, from the bombs of the Blitz to the preparations for invasion.
The Making of Modern Britain (1945 - present)
Britain in the late 20th century, from the creation of the Welfare State to multiculturalism.
British History Timeline
World War One Centenary
- Find out more about how the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is covering the , and see the latest programmes and online content
Surviving the trenches
- Dan Snow asks in WW1
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